Animal-control feeder



May l, 1923.

41,453,768 w. T. RoBBlNs ANIMAL CONTRQL FEEDER Filed Jan. 16, 1923 ZYSheQtAS-Sheet 1 I l I u y I 5F l l l Ef: x( I Q) .L

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1,453,768 w. T. ROBBINS ANIMAL CONTROL FEEDER Filed Jan. 1e, 192s 2 sheets-snaai g Patented May l, 1923.

. VUNITED rsa? l WILLIAM T. ROBB'fNS, OF MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY.

ANIMAL-CONTROL FEEDER.

Application filed January 16, 1923. Serial No. 612,941.l

To all whom t may concern Biev it known that I, VILLIAM T. RoBINs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at j Mayfield, in the county of Graves and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Animal- Control Feeders, of which the following is a specification. Y Y

My invention relates to improvements in i animal feeders, and has for the primary obsubstantially simple construction, comparatlvely inexpensive of manufacture, and y highly eflicient in operation.

The 'nature' and advantages of the invention will be better understood ywhen the foli plowing detailed description isread c onnnection with the accompanying drawings, thev invention residing inthe construction,I j' combinatiom and arrangement of parts'as l have'pivotlly securedasat14 to the lower claimed.

i fln the drawings forming part of this applica-tion, llike numerals ofreference indi- 30 cate similar parts'in the several views,and-

Wherengf' i Y v`Figureil-islaside elevational view of an animal feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2-is a vertical transverse cross sectional view of the feeder shown in Figure 1.

Figure B-is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially upon the broken line 31-3 of Figure 2", and

Figure 4 -is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower end of one of the feed conveying pipes, together with means for actuating the same.

With particular reference to the drawings, my improved feeder constitutes the provision of a main elongated feed hopper 5 ofsubstantially V shape in cross section and supported above the ground, and at the opposite ends thereof by any suitable supporting means. Within this main hopper 5 and at the top thereof is an auxiliary feed hopper 7'of a length equivalent to the length of the main hopper 5, and also substantially V-shape in cross section, the hopper 7 being As zmorevclearlyr showniniv 'Figure 3, each relatively smaller than the hopper 5 as clearly shown in Figure 2.

Within each hopper 5 and 7 there is disposed spaced transversely extending division plates 8, these plates in each of the/hoppers being in vertical alinement with each o'then Between adyacent division plates within each of the hoppers are formed openingsQ, which ,are also in'vertical alinement, asy clearly shown in Figure 2. Sli'dably disposed within alined openings of the hoppers 5y and 7, and between adjacent division plates 8, are vertically disposed hollow feed pipes 10, each of the same being resiliently supported as at 11 from the top of the feeder.k .The normal position of each of these hollowv feedfpipes 10 is as shown in` Figures 1 and2, and beneath 'the openings in the vvbottom wall of each of the 'hoppers 5 andffsaid pipes are formed with 75 openings 1-2'atone'side thereof, the portionsy of th'evpipes within the hopper being formedgwithagitating prongs 10.

Securedto: the rear inclined wall .of :the lowerlhopper '5; andispace'd:from-each opening Q'the'rein, are pendentV arms 13,L vwhich endther'eof,` a'feed tube.- control ,member 15.

of fthese. feed tube control membersy 15 constitute:thezprovision ofaJ pairof spaced v arms 16, `theinnenends of vwhich are bent inwardly as at 17 for having close Contact with the'said pendent arms 13. The arms 16 forming each ofthe feed tube control members 15 extend at opposite sides ofthe lower end ofthe hollow feed tubes 10, and are pivotally connected as at 18 to the lower end of vertical link members 19. The upper end of each of these link members 19 are loosely pivotally secured as at 20 to the feed tubes 10, this pivot 20 also carrying an anti- 'friction roller 21. The outerr free ends of the arms 16 forming the control member 15 ,l may be joined in any manner desirable, preferably by a cross arm, which has positioned thereover, a covering 22 of leather, cloth or the like foreffecting a bumper upon the free end of each of the members 15 lfor purposes hereinafter more fully. described. y

Beneath the lower/ end of the hollow feed pipes 10 is a longitudinally eXtendinginverted panLshaped member 23, the-bottom wall of which is formed with a depressed feed receiving trough 24, the forward end 110 of which is directly beneath the said hollow feed pipes. Intermediate the ends of veach of the arms 16 forming the feed tube control members 15, there is secured the upper end of coiled springs 25, which extend downwardly through openings 26 within the said inverted pan shaped member and are secured at their opposite ends upon a ylongitudinally extending rod 27. this rod being supported within the opposite end' walls of the said inverted pan shaped member 23 and also within a suitable number of transverse partition walls 28 between the side walls of said pan member.

The main feed hopper may be, andpref- "erably is, strengthened by transverse cross "rods 29, and upon the upper end of each ofthe hoppers 5 and 7, and at one side-thereof, is a rigidly disposed top wall 30, lto which 'in the hopper 7 ,there is placed a medically.

is hingedly secured by spaced hingesA 31 a swinging cover 32, which cover -ma-ybe raised'for filling the said'hoppers 5 and 7.

y'As above set forth, the main hopperI-is adapted to have received therein, the feed material, such as corn or the like, andwithtreated food, andthe normal position of the 'hollow feed tubes is as shown in Figures vll and2, that is, the feed outlet openings l2 being normally disposedbeneath the bottom wall of each 'of the hoppers. These feed tubes l0 are reciprocated yvertically within the alined openingsof the hoppers by an animal rooting within the trough-24, the nose f of 1the (animal engaging beneath the bumper 22, which will effectively control the upward movement ofthe feed tub'es'for bringing the openings l2-t'herein into the-hoppers 5 and 7 for permittingithe foods to "engage therethrough into the said-pipes for) flowing into the trough 24.

ybottom wall of the hoppers, a vertically movable hollow feed pipe disposed within these openings, inlet openings within said pipes and normally disposed beneath the bottom walls of said hoppers and animal controlled means for moving said pipesvertically for permitting the discharge of the feed from the hoppers into a troughbeneath the lower ends of said feed pipes.

'2. In ari-animal feeder of the class described, a `pair of feed hoppers having spaced alined openings in the bottom walls thereof, feed pipes vertically movable within Valined openings of the said' hoppers and hav-V ing feeding inlet openings therein-and means for reciprocating said feed .pipes for permitting discharge of the feed within'the hoppers into a trough beneath the lower ends of said pipes. y

3. In an animal feeder of the class described, a-pair of `feed hoppers, spaced verticallv disposed feedl pipes movablewithin lalined openings in the bottom'walls of said hoppers and having "feed inlet openings therein, and animal actuated controll` arms connected to the lower ends vof each ofsaid feed pipesfor reciprocating the'ysame withlin'ithe yhoppers for Ipermitting of the jdischargeof feed therefrom. f

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM T3 ROBBINS. 

